Kia Motors is expected to announce plans for its first US manufacturing plant as early as next week, with a site in southwestern Georgia believed to be the leading candidate, the Los Angeles Times reported on Wednesday.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more


The paper noted that the area is within 100 miles (160km) of parent Hyundai Motor’s assembly plant in Montgomery, Alabama, and close to a number of Hyundai suppliers.


A spokesman at Kia’s US headquarters in Irvine told the paper the company would make an announcement “by the end of the quarter.”


Online trade journal WardsAuto.com cited a Kia spokesman in Seoul as saying the plant announcement was tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, the LA Times added.

Just Auto Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Auto Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Continental has secured the Window Displays Innovation Award in the 2025 Just Auto Excellence Awards for its Window Projection solution, transforming side windows into dynamic, data-rich canvases. Discover how this compact projection technology and intelligent software are reshaping in-car UX and opening fresh revenue streams for OEMs and mobility providers.

Discover the Impact